al-Baqillani`s concept of devine speech in relation to the issue of the createdness of the Qur`an :with special reference to his al-Taqrib wa al-Irshad

Abstract

Based specifically on al-Taqrib wal Irshad, this present study discusses al-Baqillani’s thoughts on Divine Speech which rejects the concept of the createdness of the Qur’ān. This issue which involves the relationship between kalam and usull al-fiqh, includes other related topics such as the speech of God and human beings, characteristics of speech, the origins of languages, and foreign words in the Qur’an. These aspects have been clarified by al-Baqillani’s in this work in his attempt to develop the legitimacy of the uncreatedness of the Qur’an in accordance with the theological position of the Al- Ash‘arīte school. He was one of those who initiated the intellectual initiative to deepen the level of intellectual discourse on some of the principle foundations in theological thought of the Ash‘ari school. In his intellectual undertaking in tackling this issue, he proves that he is not merely a simple compiler and polemist as claimed by the orientalist, Richard Joseph McCarthy. In fact it is clear that he deepened the level of discourse of the school on this issue and advanced further arguments in its favour, thus, providing effective answers to arguments against it in the relevant issues. I believe that this thesis will give prominence to the delineation of al-Baqillani’s original ideas on this issue of Divine Speech and its uncreated nature in mainstream Islamic theology.